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Get Involved

Take action on sustainability at Cal State Monterey Bay through everyday choices, campus programs and hands-on opportunities that create real impact.

Monte rey
Sustainability

Small Actions. Big Impact.

At Cal State Monterey Bay, sustainability is part of everyday life. Built on the former Fort Ord military base, our campus reflects the power of restoration, innovation and community. From repurposed landscapes to solar-powered features across campus, sustainability is woven into the student experience.

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to lead, there’s a place for you.

Start with Everyday Actions

Small choices can make a big difference. You can support sustainability by:

  • Sorting waste correctly
  • Choosing alternative transportation options
  • Refilling personal care products at the Wonderfil station in the Otter Student Union
  • Donating or shopping at Second Wave Supplies
  • Bringing reusable utensils and water bottles to events
  • Choosing plant-forward food options

When these actions add up across our campus community, they create lasting impact.

Take the Next Step

Ready to get more involved? Explore opportunities across campus:

  • Students: Join the Associated Students Environmental Affairs Committee
  • Faculty and staff: Participate in the Green Office Program
  • Event organizers: Plan a sustainable event
  • Campus community: Visit or donate to Second Wave Supplies

At CSUMB, individual actions grow into collective change — turning everyday choices into meaningful progress for our campus and region.

Sustainability Engagement on Campus

The President’s Sustainability Committee brings together students, faculty and staff to advance sustainability across Cal State Monterey Bay. The committee advises university leadership and helps integrate sustainability into academics, operations and campus life.

Building a Culture of Sustainability

The committee supports a campus culture that:

  • Promotes lifelong learning and informed civic engagement
  • Builds skills in creative problem-solving, scientific understanding and social awareness
  • Encourages responsible individual and collective action
  • Connects classroom learning with real-world practice and partnerships
  • Uses campus as a living lab for applied sustainability
  • Applies systems thinking to complex environmental and social challenges
  • Centers equity and environmental justice
  • Advances excellence in sustainable campus operations
  • Supports behavior change aligned with campus goals
  • Strengthens place-based learning in the Monterey Bay region

Join a Working Group

The committee’s work is led through focused groups:

  • Carbon Neutrality Task Force
  • Habitat Working Group
  • Mindful Consumption Working Group
  • Nature Rx Working Group
  • Sustainable Events Working Group
  • Transportation Planning Task Force

Sustainability at CSUMB is student-driven. No matter your major, you can build community, gain hands-on experience and make a difference.

Get Connected

Join a student organization:

Learn by Doing

Participate in service-learning and hands-on projects focused on climate action, sustainable food systems and environmental stewardship. Apply what you learn while making an impact in the region.

Bring Sustainability into Your Studies

Sustainability connects to every field. Talk with your professors about integrating environmental and social impact into your coursework and academic goals.

A group of four AES students and a professor kneeling in the grass while the professor holds a squirrel

The Green Otter Newsletter

Subscribe to The Green Otter, Cal State Monterey Bay’s monthly sustainability newsletter. Get updates on campus initiatives, upcoming events, ways to get involved and practical tips for everyday sustainable living.

Green Office Program

Staff and faculty are encouraged to join the Green Office Program and take simple, flexible steps to reduce waste and build a more sustainable workplace at Cal State Monterey Bay.

Learn More About the Green Office Program
A staff member points at a large wall-mounted campus map while another takes notes. They appear to be discussing safety logistics.
Two staff members talk while seated at a conference table with a campus map on the wall. One is mid-conversation while the other smiles and listens.

Contact Us

Questions about our work? Get in contact!

Sustainability Starts Here

The Sustainability office is here to support your ideas, answer questions and help you get involved.

Contact

Sustainability

Derek Martin

Associate Director for Safety, Risk and Sustainability